Immediate intervention to improve health of HIV positive women in Kyiv

Project donor(s)
Duration
Budget
Partner(s)
Gilead Sciences Europe Ltd (goSHAPE grants programme)September 2014 –
August 2015
€47,847Positive Women of the World, Kyiv branch of All-Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, University of Amsterdam Medical Centre

The main purpose of this project is to empower positive women in Kyiv and  to improve the quality of their life.

Project objectives:

  • To facilitate the creation of small support networks of women living with HIV in different districts of Kyiv and around the city.
  • To address the issue of co infection with hepatitis C and how to deal with it in combination with the HIV treatment with some of the women.
  • To reinforce compliance to treatment for women and their positive children.
  • To inform women about their reproductive rights and options for birth control.
  • To build a better dialogue and understanding between the women and the medical professionals regarding their treatment, quality of life and future.
  • To empower positive women and improve their advocacy skills for better accessing the services.
  • To start a cooperation between the local medical professionals and their colleagues at the University of Amsterdam Medical Center.
  • Project partnerships: Positive Women of the World (PWW), Kyiv branch of All-Ukrainian Network of people living with HIV/AIDS, the University of Amsterdam Medical Center.

Methodology:

  • Meaningful Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS (MIPA principle).
  • Close trustful link with doctors, social worker and nurses in the hospital.

Project activities:

  • Phone hotline for positive women;
  • Monthly meeting of positive women – master classes, trainings, other joint activities (building a support network of HIV positive active women);
  • Trainings for female peer leaders, medical and social workers (on most crucial issues);
  • Social support and referral to other services (if needed/on request);
  • Study tour to the Netherlands for Ukrainian social workers and medical professionals.

Project outcomes:

  • Overall 59 HIV-positive women received project services;
  • 612 hotline telephone counseling sessions were provided (psychological counseling and support, providing information about the project and services, advising clients on treatment, counseling about life with HIV, hepatitis C, TB, providing support and referrals, addressing other women’s needs);
  • self-help group for support and empowerment of HIV+ women was organized and 12 meeting were held (with average attendance of 10-15 clients at one group at one time);
  • 22 joint events were organized including leisure time activities and cultural events, such as going to the movie theater together, or doing yoga etc.
  • 24 women received 126 motivational hygienic sets;
  • secretive on-line facebook group “Kyiv woman +” gathered 35 most active HIV-positive clients who support each other and share information;
  • 6 educational and informational meetings with medical professionals (with participation of HIV-positive women from the group) were held. The meetings were focused on psychological aspects of living with HIV and building effective dialogue with doctors in order to improve their communication with clients;
  • 2 trainings for social workers, volunteers and leaders among clients were conducted with the involvement of international partners – Dutch NGO Positive Women of the World (PWW). The trainings were focused on empowerment and presentation of the Immediate Intervention method, development of individual strategies for coping with stigma, building support within the self-help group including ways to support women in very difficult life circumstances, participants also learned how to set the goals and plan their future;
  • 34 HIV+ women received professional skills at the 4 vocational courses (Basic English course, office manager course, course of floristic, course on manicure and pedicure);

Thanks to the Study Tour to Amsterdam in April for 5 participants a cooperation between Ukrainian medical professionals and their colleagues at the University of Amsterdam Medical Center and Dutch NGOs was launched.

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